By Mike Russo
The transport vessel had been traveling on a dangerous path in the North Atlantic, en route to an American Army base in Greenland. German submarines had been sinking Allied ships at a rate of 100 per month along the route, which had been appropriately nicknamed "torpedo junction." The Dorchester was hit on Feb. 3, 1943, torpedoed by the German U-223. The damage to the vessel was so severe that the ship sank in just 20 minutes.
Archer recalled his experience on the ship in an interview with Ed Aulman, the director of the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency, which was aired at a recent ceremony at Baldwin American Legion Post 246, marking the anniversary of the sinking.
Archer remembered that there were warnings earlier that evening that German subs were in the area, and that the ship was hit while he was sleeping. Almost immediately, he said, he felt the ship start to tilt, and made his way up to the deck. Archer recalled that many of the men were afraid to jump into the frigid water, and urged him not to jump. But seeing the lifeboats pulling away from the doomed vessel, he said, he knew he had no choice but to jump. Luckily, fellow soldiers plucked him from the 34-degree water and got him into a lifeboat, which was later recovered by the Coast Guard.
Post 246 also honored the memory of the Four Chaplains, a group of religious leaders aboard the Dorchester whose selfless act of staying behind to help the soldiers get to lifeboats has been credited with the survival of 230 men. Though Archer doesn't remember seeing the chaplains at the time of the sinking, he said he spoke to fellow sailors who recalled the four men leading others to lifeboats and even giving up their own lifejackets. Archer had attend a religious service led by one of the chaplains the night before.
Archer's son, Christopher, now 52, said that his father always considered the event a life-changing experience, because he lost many friends that night. Christopher remembers that his father coached many of his sports teams, including football and Little League with the Baldwin Bombers. When Christopher moved to Colorado, his father enjoyed taking the trip out to see him.
Joseph Archer was a fan of the Boston Red Sox, turkey sandwiches and playing handball, which he continued until a few years ago. Above all, though, Christopher said, his dad was a great role model and a wonderful father.
"I'm just really fortunate to have him as my dad," Christopher said. "He was a very sweet guy. Some of the things he taught me just stayed with me, like 'try your best' and 'never give up hope.' Just a kind, giving, loving man. I already sorely miss him."
Archer's daughter, Aileen, 44, said that the last decade of her father's life was mostly dedicated to her children, whom he called every night at 7. One of her son's fondest memories, she recalled, was a trip the family took to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Aileen remembers her father’s comical food-ordering routine, his love of old movies and the Kentucky Derby, and his relaxed demeanor. And despite his traumatic experience aboard the Dorchester, it was he who taught Aileen to enjoy the ocean.
"He was a very calm man," said Aileen. "He was the least-stressed person I ever met in my life. I can't say enough things about him. He was a great man, and he will really, really be missed."
A wake was held on Monday at Cecere-Pensa Funeral Home in Baldwin, and Archer’s funeral was scheduled for Tuesday in Roosevelt.
Comments about this story? MRusso@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
